The decision to create the North of Tyne devolution deal without a referendum has been called into question.

The deal, which will see Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside set up a new breakaway partnership, was announced on November 24 after months of negotiations.

Worth an initial £600m over 30 years and expected to create 10,000 jobs and attract £2.1bn in private investment, the deal could be a major economic boost for region.

On top of that, it will change the way the North East is governed, most notably with the introduction of an elected mayor who will be handed new powers.

Ballot Box (Image: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)

Some are asking why voters aren’t getting a say on whether or not to proceed with the deal - and there’s a precedent for this.

In 2004, when Tony Blair’s government wanted to create a North East assembly, voters were asked to consent to it via a postal referendum but rejected it.

Among those calling for a local referendum on this deal is Hilton Dawson, the Northumberland born former Lancaster and Wyre MP and one of the founding members of the North East Party.

He described the announcement as an “undemocratic outrage” and called on the three council leaders who negotiated the deal to offer “an explanation and a description of their plans and give us our democratic say”.

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“This statutory process requires areas wishing to set up a combined authority to consult with residents in the area on their proposals and for the results of that consultation to be considered by the Secretary of State before he decides to lay the order in parliament that will create the combined authority.

“This is the process that will be undertaken by the North of Tyne over the next couple of months.

“The process is being driven by three democratically elected councils and will be supported by resident consultation across the whole of the North East.

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“This is the process that has taken place across the country in a number of Mayoral Combined Authority areas including Greater Manchester, Liverpool, West Midlands and Tees Valley.

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“A referendum would be extremely costly and in view of the nature of the process described is not necessary.”

Members of the public will be able to have their say on the deal via a six week public consultation, the results of which will be submitted to communities secretary Sajid Javid before he formally decides whether or not to set up the new authority.

The deal would then be ratified in the House of Commons and an interim mayor appointed at some point around summer 2018.